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____/ High Plains Thumper on Saturday 13 Aug 2011 08:15 : \____
> High Plains Thumper wrote:
>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>
>>> A foundation for the desktop â one apple, two ideas
>>>
>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>>> The story of the free software desktop is littered with what-ifs and
>>>> might-have-beens. The desktop has been 'good enough' for years, and
>>>> can boast some considerable success stories, but has yet to make a
>>>> significant breakthrough.
>>>>
>>>> On the face of it, the free software desktop should be an easy choice.
>>>> The average GNU/Linux desktop costs little, looks good and performs
>>>> well, and offers a real opportunity to break the upgrade cycle. Cost,
>>>> security, scalability and versatility are persuasive arguments for the
>>>> free desktop, but other factors have worked against the uptake of
>>>> Linux at the corporate level.
>>>>
>>>> Inertia among users is usually given as the reason and users are made
>>>> to take the blame, but perhaps there are simpler explanations. The
>>>> desktop has been left in the hands of the Linux companies, and the
>>>> Linux companies are many and small.
>>> `----
>>>
>>> http://www.h-online.com/open/features/A-foundation-for-the-desktop-one-
>>> apple-two-ideas-1318177.html
>>
>> The one thing that is missing from this article is the anticompetitive
>> actions against Linux and competing software companies to promote and
>> maintain Microsoft technologies, as summarised in:
>>
>> http://www.ecis.eu/documents/Finalversion_Consumerchoicepaper.pdf
>>
>> [quote]
>> V. MICROSOFTâS MONOPOLIES HAVE HARMED CONSUMERS
>>
>> Microsoftâs conduct has allowed it to protect its monopolies, which
>> has led to a lack of choice, higher prices, and less innovation than
>> would otherwise have prevailed in a competitive marketplace. The
>> barriers to entry surrounding Microsoftâs core monopolies remain very
>> high, and Microsoftâs market shares and profit margins in desktop
>> operating systems, office productivity suites, and browsers have
>> continued to reflect its overwhelming monopoly power in these
>> markets.[148]
>
> Footnote references:
>
> [quote]
> 148. See California Groupâs Report on Remedial Effectiveness at 2â4 (Aug.
> 30, 2007), New York v. Microsoft Corp., 224 F. Supp. 2d 76 (D.D.C. 2002)
> (No. 98-1232), available at http://www.naag.org/assets/files/pdf/
> antitrust.2007-08-30_Filed_CA_Group_Effectiveness_Report.pdf
> [http://tinyurl.com/43en6fc]; see also Microsoft Corp., Annual Report
> (Form 10-K) at 67 (July 31, 2008), available at http://idea.sec.gov/
> Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312508162768/d10k.htm. The profit margin
> for Microsoftâs client segment, which includes its Windows operating
> system, was 77% in fiscal year 2008. See id. at 23. The profit margin for
> Microsoftâs business division, which includes Office, was 65%. See id. at
> 26.
> [/quote]
>
>> In short, Microsoftâs misconduct has harmed and continues to harm
>> consumers significantly.
>>
>> A. Microsoftâs Operating System Monopoly Has Harmed Consumers
>> For fifteen years, Microsoftâs share of desktop operating systems has
>> remained above 90%.[149]
>
> [quote]
> 149. See Operating System Market Share Survey, Net Applications, Dec.
> 2008, available at http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-
> market-share.aspx?qprid=8; California Groupâs Report on Remedial
> Effectiveness at 10 (Aug. 30, 2007), New York v. Microsoft Corp., 224 F.
> Supp. 2d 76 (D.D.C. 2002) (No. 98-1232), available at http://www.naag.org/
> assets/files/pdf/antitrust.2007-08-30_Filed_CA_Group_Effectiveness_
> Report.pdf [http://tinyurl.com/43en6fc].
> [/quote]
>
>> In 2002, when the Final Judgment in United States v. Microsoft was
>> entered, Windows XP was the most common desktop operating system.[150]
>> Microsoft did not release a successor to Windows XP until 2007, when it
>> released Windows Vista.[151] Even then, the âVistaâ that Microsoft
>> released lacked the most significant features that Microsoft had
>> initially promised, and reviewers labeled it as little more than an
>> incremental improvement.[152] CNet News, a leading computer industry
>> publication, ranked Microsoftâs Windows Vista in its âTop Ten Terrible
> Tech Products.â[153]
>
> [quote]
> 150. See California Groupâs Report on Remedial Effectiveness at 10 (Aug.
> 30, 2007), New York v. Microsoft Corp., 224 F. Supp. 2d 76 (D.D.C. 2002)
> (No. 98-1232), available at http://www.naag.org/assets/files/pdf/
> antitrust.2007-08-30_Filed_CA_Group_Effectiveness_Report.pdf.
>
> 151. See id.; see also Hadley Stern, Mac Updates vs. Windows Updates,
> OâREILLY NETWORK, May 20, 2004,
> http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2004/05/
> mac_updates_vs_windows_updates.html (contrasting Appleâs regular update
> schedule for its operating system with Microsoftâs and noting that
> âMicrosoftâs ... approach leaves innovation on a very slow timeframeâ).
>
> 152. See Robert Vamosi, Editorsâ Reviews: Windows Vista , CNET REVIEWS,
> Jan. 24, 2007, http://reviews.cnet.com/windows/windows-vista-home-
> premium/4505-3672_7-32013237.html?tag=prod.2 (labeling Vista a âwarmed-
> over Windows XP Home editionâ and noting that after five years of
> development âthereâs a definite âIs that all?â feelingâ); Ina Fried &
> Margaret Kane, Microsoft Revamps Its Plans for Longhorn, CNET NEWS, Aug.
> 27, 2004, http://www.news.com/Microsoft-revamps-its-plans-for-
> Longhorn/2100-1016_3-5327150.html (noting that Microsoft âhas not had a
> full release of its desktop operating system since Windows XP debuted in
> October 2001â).
>
> 153. Top Ten Terrible Tech Products, CNET CRAVE, Nov. 20, 2007,
> http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/0,39029552,49293700-10,00.htm.
> [/quote]
It's funny to see which sites they choose to reference, e.g. ones that
are funded by Apple and Microsoft and partly owned by Paul Allen.
- --
~~ Best of wishes
Dr. Roy S. Schestowitz (Ph.D. Medical Biophysics), Imaging Researcher
http://Schestowitz.com | GNU/Linux administration | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Editor @ http://techrights.org & Broadcaster @ http://bytesmedia.co.uk/
GPL-licensed 3-D Othello @ http://othellomaster.com
Non-profit search engine proposal @ http://iuron.com
Contact E-mail address (direct): s at schestowitz dot com
Contact Internet phone (SIP): schestowitz@xxxxxxxxx (24/7)
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